Hair clip



E. OTTEN HAIR CLIP Aug. 26, 1958 Filed Feb. 14, 1958 United States Patent O HAIR CLIP Eric Otten, Chicago, 11]., assignor to Lady Lora Wave Clip Corp., Chicago, 11]., a corporation of Illinois Application February 14, 1958, Serial No. 715,335 Claims. (Cl. 132-48) This invention relates to hair clips adapted for securing spirally wound flat strands of hair.

In the interest of economy of manufacture, it has been customary to fabricate the arm of hair clips from thin, elongated metal plates which are superimposed and pivotally mounted with respect to one another. The plates of each clip are usually deformed at one end so that they diverge longitudinally outwardly to form handle-forming portions which, when pressed together, separate the jaws of the clip located at the other end of the plates. Some means for resiliently urging the hair clip jaws together are invariably provided. In general, these means have been of two general types. One of these types is the single-tongue type often comprising a single bow-shaped tongue struck from one of the plates in the vicinity of the handle-forming portion thereof and projecting first outwardly thereon and then inwardly to pass through the slot left by the punched-out tongue and contact the main body of the other plate as by hooking under a defining edge of a slot provided in the latter plate. The other type is the double-tongue type which has heretofore comprised respective tongues struck from the plates. One of the tongues bowed outwardly of the associated plate in the vicinity of the handle-forming portion thereof and passed through the slot left by the punched-out tongue. The other tongue was a straight fiat tongue extending inwardly from the other plate in the same direction as the first tongue and contacting the confronting surface thereof in a manner to urge the jaws of the clip together. One of the disadvantages of these two hair clips was that the bowed tongues extended in the way of the fingers engaging one of the handle-forming portions of the clips, causing discomfort to the user and also interfering with the degree of movement which could be imparted to the clip jaws. Additionally, wisps of hair sometimes became snarled within the eyes formed by the loops of the bowshaped tongues which, of course, was inconvenient and caused some discomfort to the user. Although some of the single-tongue clips were made in a manner which avoided these disadvantages, they, nevertheless, lacked some of the advantages especially of the double-tongue type clips.

Among the primary objects of the present invention are to provide an improved hair clip of the double tongue type, but operating on a different principle than the double-tongue. clip described above, said improved clip overcoming the disadvantages described above and including added advantages to be described.

In accordance with one aspect of the invention, the resilient means for urging the jaws of the clip together most preferably comprises a pair of straight, fiat tongues inwardly struck from the clip plate so as to extend in opposite directions therefrom. Both tongues lie completely between the main bodies of the clip plates so that they do not interfere with the ease of operation thereof and the comfort of the user. One of the tongues is formed in the handle-forming portion of the associated plate and the other tongue is formed from the portion rce of the other plate on the jaw-forming side of the fulcrum of the clip. At least one of the tongues, preferably the one formed in the handle-forming portion of one of the clip plates, extends to a-point beyond the fulcrum where it resiliently interlocks with the tongue of the other plate so as to urge the clip jaws together. This novel interlocking tongue action provides a more even spring action as the jaws of the clip are progressively opened than in the above-mentioned hair clip constructions, while at the same time providing a very rugged clip which eliminates the hair-snarling openings and the finger obstructions present in the above-mentioned hair clips.

Another aspect of the invention involves the use of soft resilient cap means extending over the end of the bottommost of the plates which is to be located next to the users scalp. This feature not only prevents scratching of the scalp when the clip is being applied to the hair, but also provides a means of securely closing the end of the clip since the jaw of the uppermost plate can then bite into the soft resilient material of the soft resilient cap means.

Other objects, advantages and features of the present invention will become apparent upon making reference to the specification to follow, the claims and drawings wherein:

Fig. l is a perspective view of the preferred form of hair clip of the present invention, with the jaw-forming ends of the clip separated to receive a flat hair curl;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the upper arm of the clip;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the lower arm of the hair clip;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged side elevational view of the clip in its closed position, the open position thereof being shown in dash lines;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary longitudinal sectional view through the clip at the handle-forming end thereof, showing the position of the tongues thereof in the closed position of the clip; and

Fig. 6 is a view corresponding to Fig. 5 when the clip is in its opened position.

Referring now to the drawings, the preferred clip 2 of the present invention comprises superimposed clamp arms 2 and 4 formed by thin, elongated, generally rectangular plates made of spring metal material. The bottom plate 4 has a straight, bifurcated clamp jaw-forming portion comprising two jaw fingers 6--6 formed by a longitudinal center slot 8 stamped in the plate. Each of the jaw fingers is provided with a longitudinal slot 10 for reasons to be explained. Preferably, soft resilient rubber caps 11-11 are adhesively orotherwise secured around the tips of the jaw fingers 66 for reasons to be explained. The jaw-forming portion of the plate 4 occupies a major portion of the length of the plate and terminates in a short, upwardly, longitudinally inclining portion 12 which joins a downwardly and longitudinally inclining handleforming portion 14. The end 16 of the jaw-forming portion 14 is curved upwardly for reasons to be explained.

As shown most clearly in Fig. 3, a straight, outwardly tapering, flat resilient tongue 18 is struck upwardly from the central region of the upwardly inclined portion 12 of the bottom plate 4, the tongue projecting toward the handle-forming end of the clip. The end of the tongue 18 is formed from a short segment of material struck from the inner end of the handle-forming portion 14 of the plate 4, as shown most clearly in Fig. 6. Securing tabs 2020 are also struck up from the inner end of the handle-forming portion 14 of the plate.

The top plate 2 in general has the outlines of the bottom plate 4. The jaw-forming portion of the plate 2 overlying the jaw fingers of the bottom plate has a pair of corresponding jaw fingers 24-24 formed by a longitudinal slot 26 interrupted by a web 28 located medially of the slot and bridging the jaw fingers 24-24. Jaw fingers 24-24 have a wavy or undulating shape viewed longitudinally thereof, and the fingers curl upwardly at the ends 3030 thereof. They are longer than the jaw fingers 1010 of the bottom plate, terminating adjacent the outer end of the upwardly inclined portion 12 of the bottom plate 4. The jaw fingers 24-24 terminate in an upwardly inclined, handle-forming portion 32, the outer end 34 of which is curved downwardly for reasons to be explained.

, An outwardly tapering resilient tongue 36 is struck downwardly from the handle-forming portion 32, the tip portion thereof being formed from a short segment of material at the base of the jaw-forming portion of the plate 2, as illustrated most clearly in Figs. and 6. The handle-forming portion 32 of the plate 2 is further provided with respective apertures 38-38 positioned to receive the securing tabs 20-20 stuck up from the corresponding portion of the bottom plate 4.

The two plates 2 and 4 can be assembled into a completed clamp by the simple expedient of pushing the tongue 18 of the lower plate upwardly from its normal position shown in Fig. 3, so that the end portion of the tongue 36 of the top plate can be readily positioned beneath the tongue 18 of the bottom plate with the securing tabs 20-20 passing through the holes 38-38 of the upper plate. Then, when the tongue 18 is released, the resiliency of the tongues will cause the tongues to be securely interlocked and the jaw-forming portions of the clip will be urged into their closed positions shown most clearly in Fig. 4. When the clip is thus closed, only the end portions of the tongues 18 and 36 are interlocked and in substantially face-to-face contact (Fig. 5). Also,

the upturned ends 30-30 of the jaw fingers 2424 of the upper plate are pressed into firm engagement with the rubber caps 2222 of the jaw fingers of the bottom plate 4. Caps 22-22 thus serve the double function of preventing scratching of the users scalp when being inserted into the hair and securely closing the ends of the jaw fingers. The straight fiat bottom of the jaw fingers of the bottom plate rest comfortably upon the users head and the undulating shape of the jaw fingers of the top plate form spaced hair curl-contacting points 41 separated by air-circulating spaces 43 on the bottom of the latter plate. These spaces 43 together with the longitudinal slots 8, 10, 25 and 26 provide for maximum circulation of air about the surface of the clamped hair curl.

.One of the important features of the present invention lies in the use of the two interlocking tongues 18 and 36 to provide the closing force for the clip. Since the tongues are engaged only at .their'endportions, good flexibility is achieved which reduces the force required to open fully the clip jaws. Furthermore, the overlapping tongues .aid in looking the plates against relative lateral movement, permitting a complete securingtogether ofthe two plates by the simple expedient of passing the tabs 20--20 through the aperatures 3838 in the handleforming portions of the clip. Another one of the important advantages in the tongue-construction described is that both tongues lie completely between the plates so that neither tongue obstructs the handle-forming portions of the clip. Thus the users fingers may engage the fiat surfaces of the clip handles over their entire extent, which greatlyincreases the comfort to the user'and the ease of opening the clamp. The respectively inwardly curved portions 16 and 34 atthe ends ofthe clip handles greatly enhances the ease of using the clip since the relatively sharp edges of the plates do not contact the =usersfingers.

When the clip is opened by applying pressure 'to the handles thereof, the tongue 32 of the top plate is pulled upwardly against the bottom surfaceof the tongue -18 of the bottom plate, so as to create a fairly constant force which urges the clip to its'closed position. In additionto the advantages above described, it should be apparent that the present invention provides a very rugged yet simple and inexpensive hair clamp construction.

It should be understood that numerous modifications may be made of the most preferred form of the invention above described without deviating from the broader aspects of the present invention.

What I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent of the United States is:

l. In a hair clip for holding together flat curls comprising a pair of superimposed arms extending longitudinally of one another and having confronting clamp jaw-forming portions adapted to clamp a hair curl therebetween, and longitudinally outwardly diverging handle-forming end portions, the inner ends of which terminate in a fulcrum where the arms are relatively rockable relative to one another about a transverse axis to open and close the jaws of the clip, the improvement comprising means for resiliently urging the jaws of the clip together, said means comprising a resilient tongue extending longitudinally from one of said arms towards the other arm and a resilient tongue extending longitudinally from said other arm toward said one arm, said tongues making face-to-face contact with one another and resiliently urging the clip jaws together, said tongues being in the region of said fulcrum.

2. In a hair clip for holding together flat curls comprising a pair of superimposed arms extending longitudinally of one another and having confronting clamp jaw-forming portions adapted to clamp a hair curl therebetween, and longitudinally outwardly diverging handleforming end portions, the inner ends of which terminate in a fulcrum where the arms are relatively rockable relative to one another about a transverse axis to open and close the jaws of the clip, the improvement comprising means for resiliently urging the jaws of the clip together, said means comprising a resilient tongue extending longitudinally inwardly from one of said arms towards the other arm and terminating in the general neighborhood of the fulcrum, and a resilient tongue extending longitudinally inwardly from said other arm toward said one arm, said tongues being located completely between said arms and making face-to-face contact with one another and resiliently urging the clip jaws together, said tongues being in the region of said fulcrum.

'3. In a hair clip for holding together fiat curls comprising a pair of superimposed arms extending longitudinally of one another and having confronting clamp jaw-forming portions adapted to clamp a hair curl therebetween, and longitudinally outwardly diverging handleforming end portions, the inner ends of which terminate inra fulcrum where the arms are relatively rockable relative to one another about a transverse axis to open and close the jaws of the clip, the improvement comprising means for resiliently urging 'the jaws of the clip together, said means comprising a straight, flat resilient tongue extending longitudinally inwardly from one of said arms towards the other arm and terminating in the general neighborhood of the fulcrum, and a straight, fiat resilient tongue extending longitudinally inwardly from said other arm toward said one arm, said tongues being located completely between said arms and making faceto-face contact with one another and resiliently urging the clip jaws together, said tongues being in the region of said fulcrum.

4. In a hair clip for holding together fiat curls comprising a pair of superimposed clip arms extending longitudinally of one another and having confronting clamp jaw-forming portions adapted to clamp a hair curl therebetween and longitudinally outwardly diverging handleforming end portions, the inner ends of which terminate in a fulcrum where the arms are relatively rockable about a transverse axis to open and close the jaws of the clip, the improvement comprising means for resiliently urging .the jaws of the clip together, said means comprising a resilient tongue extending from the bandle-fonning portion of one of said arms toward the jawforming end of the clip and projecting beyond said fulcrum, and a resilient tongue extending from said other arm from a point on the side of said fulcrum nearest the jaw-forming end of the clip and projecting toward the handle-forming end of the clip, at least one of the tongues extending past said fulcrum and resiliently interlocking with the other tongue to urge the clip jaws together.

5. In a' hair clip for holding together fiat curls comprising a pair of superimposed clip arms extending longitudinally of one another and having confronting clamp jaw-forming portions adapted to clamp a hair curl there between, and longitudinally outwardly diverging handle-forming end portions, the inner ends of which terminate in a fulcrum where the arms are relatively rockable about a transverse axis to open and close the jaws of the clip, the improvement comprising means for resiliently urging the jaws of the clip together, said means comprising a resilient tongue extending longitudinally inwardly from the handle-forming portion of one of said arms toward the jaw-forming end of the other arm and projecting beyond said fulcrum, and a resilient tongue extending longitudinally inwardly from said other arm from a point on the side of said fulcrum nearest the jaw-forming end of said one arm and projecting toward the handle-forming end of the clip, at least one of the tongues extending past said fulcrum and resiliently interlocking with the other tongue to urge the clip jaws together, and said tongues lying completely between said arms.

6. In a hair clip for holding together fiat curls comprising a pair of superimposed clip arms extending longitudinally of one another-and having confronting clamp jaw-forming portions adapted to clamp a hair curl therebetween, and longitudinally outwardly diverging handleforming end portions, the inner ends of which terminate in a fulcrum where the arms are relatively rockable about a transverse axis to open and close the jaws of the clip, the improvement comprising means for resiliently urging the jaws of the clip together, said means comprising a resilient tongue extending longitudinally inwardly from the handle-forming portion of one of said arms toward the jaw-forming end of the other arm and projecting beyond said fulcrum, a resilient tongue extending longitudinally inwardly from said other arm from a point on the side of said fulcrum nearest the jaw-forming end of said one arm and projecting toward the handle-forming end of the clip, at least one of the tongues extending past said fulcrum and resiliently interlocking with the other tongue to urge the clip jaws together, and said tongues lying completely between said arms, and means for preventing relative longitudinal movement between said arms comprising tabs projecting laterally inwardly from one of said arms and apertures in the other of same receiving said tabs.

7. In a hair clip for holding together flat curls which comprises a pair of superimposed, elongated plates extending longitudinally of one another and having confronting clamp-jaw-forming portions at one end adapted to clamp a hair curl therebetween and longitudinally outwardly diverging, handle-forming portions at the other end thereof, the inner ends of said handle-forming portions terminating in a fulcrum where the plates are relatively rockable to open and close the jaws of the clip, the improvement comprising means for resiliently urging the jaws of the clip together comprising a resilient longitudinal tongue struck from the handle-forming portion of one of said plates and projecting toward the jaw-forming end of the clip, and a resilient longitudinal tongue struck from the other plate, said tongues being in the region of said fulcrum and resiliently interlocking with each other to urge the jaws of the clip together.

8. In a hair clip for holding together flat curls which comprises a pair of superimposed, elongated plates extending longitudinally of one another and having confronting clamp-jaw-forming portions at one end thereof adapted to clamp a hair curl therebetween and longitudinally outwardly diverging, handle-forming portions at the other end thereof, the inner ends of said handleforrning portions terminating in a fulcrum where the plates are relatively rockable about a transverse axis to open and close the jaws of the clip, the improvement comprising means for resiliently urging the jaws of the clip together comprising a straight resilient longitudinal tongue struck inwardly from the handle-forming portion of one of said plates and projecting toward the jaw-forming end of the clip, and a straight resilient longitudinal tongue struck inwardly from the other plate from a point on the side of said fulcrum nearest the jaw-forming end of the clip and projecting toward the handle-forming end of the clip, at least one of said tongues extending past said fulcrum and resiliently interlocking with said other tongue to urge the jaws of the clip together.

9. A hair clip for holding flat curls comprising a pair of superimposed, elongated, thin metal plates extending longitudinally of one another, each of said plates having at one end a centrally disposed longitudinal slot forming a pair of jaw fingers confronting the jaw fingers of the other plate, said plates having longitudinally, outwardly diverging, handle-forming portions at the other end of the clip, the inner ends of said plates terminating in deformed plate portions forming a fulcrum wherein the plates are relatively rockable upon one another along a transverse axis to open and close the jaws of the clip, the outer portions of the jaw fingers of the top plate being unconnected and a web extending between the medial portions thereof, said latter jaw fingers having a longitudinally undulating shape, the jaw fingers of the bottom plate being flat comfortably to contact the users scalp, the ends of said Outwardly diverging handle-forming portions of said plates being turned inwardly to provide smooth-feeling fingerjaw fingers of the clip together comprising respective tongues struck from said plates on opposite sides of said fulcrum and extending inwardly of the associated plates, at least one of said tongues extending past said fulcrum and interlocking with the other tongue to urge the clip jaws together. 1

10-. In a hair clip for holding together fiat curls comprising a pair of elongated superimposed clip arms extending longitudinally of one another and having confronting clamp jaw-forming portions at one end thereof adapted to clamp a hair curl therebetween, longitudinally outwardly diverging, handle-forming portions at the other end, the inner ends of which terminate in a fulcrum where the arms are relatively rockable about a transverse axis to open and close the jaws of the clip, the improvement comprising means for resiliently urging the jaws of the clip together, said means comprising a straight, flat resilient tongue extending longitudinally inwardly from the handle-forming portion of one of said arms toward the jaw-forming end of the clip and extending beyond said fulcrum where it connects with said other arm in a mannor to urge the same toward said one arm, and said tongue lying completely between said arms so as not to obstruct the outer surface of the finger-receiving portion of the arm from which it extends.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Notice of Adverse Decision in Interference In Interference No. 90,427 in clip, final judgment adverse to th Gazette July 10,

claims L and 7.

No. 2,849,008, E. Otten, Hair e patentee was rendere 

